My 7 Step Checklist for Promoting Webinars [2nd Edition]

Use this webinar checklist to promote your next webinar

I want to share with you one of my favorite checklists. Webinars can be a terrific tool for building an email list. One of the biggest struggles most people have with webinars is getting people to show up.

In order to have raving fans filling up your webinars, you need to learn how to create “buzz.”

Creating “buzz” can be accomplished by getting the word out about your upcoming webinar in the following locations:

2. Do a blog post series leading up to the webinar

This is what I call “priming the pump.” Consider writing a series of blog posts that share some of the content you will be discussing on your webinar. By showing value up front you will get more signups.

Writing a blog post series is also a great way to engage those who are already following you.

Webinar Tip: You can also drive traffic to your blog post using Facebook Ads. From there, you can segment them on Facebook and display a webinar ad asking them to sign up. We’ve seen our cost per webinar registrant is lower using this strategy (see pic).

In the past I did a 7-part blog post series on How to Use Evernote as a Creative (blogger, speaker, writer, entrepreneur). My goal with the series is to add so much value it creates a “buzz” about the webinar. Here is an example:

3. Invite your video or podcast listeners to sign up

If you have a podcast, include your listeners on the upcoming event. I have found that some of my audience only engages with me via my podcast or videos on YouTube.

To get the most webinar registrants as possible, promote signups using a service like LeadDigits from LeadPages. Most podcast listeners and even those watching YouTube videos are engaging with you via a smart phone.

You can get many more webinar signups if they can register by texting. Want to see it in action? Text the word MESSAGE to 44222. This will register you for our webinar called: The 4-Step $100k Expert Blueprint.

4. Promote your webinar event on social media

There are a lot of details that can go into this one, but let me share the basics with you.

Pinterest – pin the sidebar image you created earlier on Pinterest. Make your landing page the source for the picture.

Facebook – Upload your sidebar image as the picture of your Facebook post and let those on your fan page know about your webinar. You can even pay to “boost” your post to show to even more of your fans.

Google Plus – Promote your webinar to your circles or community page. You can also create a Google+ Event, which is sent out to all of your circles.

Linkedin – post the event in your status update box and in the groups you are a part of. I also own a few Linkedin groups. This can be a great place to get the word out too.

YouTube and Vimeo – If you have a promo video for your webinar, get them out there on YouTube or Vimeo. Post your registration link below the video.

Twitter – Use HootSuite, BufferApp or Meet Edgar to schedule a few tweets about the event. Change up the language a bit so it doesn’t look repetitive.

Webinar Tip: Create a pre-filled tweet about your webinar using click to tweet and ask other friends and influencers to share your tweet with their followers.

5. Do an email blast the Monday before the webinar

If you have an email list, let them know about it 4 days in advance. You don’t want to push it too far in advance because it can lose the urgency to sign up. You can boost registrations up front by offering something of value to those who register.

Give them a checklist, swipe file, ebook, special report, or case study. Giving them value before the webinar is an effective strategy.

6. Send a second email on Tuesday to all of the “unopened” email subscribers

We are all busy. Sometimes your subscribers miss the first email. Inside of most email subscription providers you can target a second email to just those who did not open your first email.

You can also send a second email to anyone who didn’t register for the webinar from your first email too! The point to remember here is everyone on your list is NOT reading every email you send. Even though I try to send at least 3-4 emails promoting the webinar, I always here from email subscribers after the fact that they didn’t hear about the webinar.

Question: What is one of your favorite methods for getting the word out?

Jonathan has been blogging since 2009 and is still in awe that the Creator of the Universe desires to have a relationship with him. His passions include spending time with his kids, reading, March Madness, surprise get-a-way trips with his wife, and watching funny YouTube videos.

Hey Michael, I was actually just looking at it last week in fact. I really like that it works well with Google Hangouts on Air. I have been using Hangouts on Air to run my webinars as of late. I don’t have to worry about remembering to record as it is done automatically by YouTube. Also, they just upgraded the quality of a hangout to 720dp HD quality.

http://michaelhyatt.com/ Michael Hyatt

That’s good to know. I need to give it a try. Webinars will be a key focus for me in the next 12 months.

http://bloggingyourpassion.com/ Jonathan Milligan

Here is another idea. I’ve been experimenting the last two months with a WordPress plugin called WebinarExpress. It is a one time payment and it allows you to host webinars via your blog using Hangouts on Air. Screen share works awesome in a hangout. The plugin gives you a customizable registration page, thank you page, live webinar link, replay page, Q&A box for viewers, etc.

Admittedly, it has had a few bugs, but they did a smart thing and closed the cart down and they are making some improvements and additions. I think it is the future and monthly webinar fees and participant limits are a thing of the past.

The updated version is also going to allow you to start and stop your hangout inside the plugin as well.

One last idea I’ve done for my membership site is embed a hangout and use chatroll.com. This allows live video and chat on any page. I did this on a page inside the members area allowing me to easily host my own member only webinars. Fun stuff!

http://bloggingyourpassion.com/ Jonathan Milligan

Oh, by the way, here is an example landing page I am using for an upcoming webinar. This was created with WebinarExpress. i am testing a picture instead of a video call to action on this one.

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